Right, sorry for the lengthy delay in posts, and when I say sorry, as I really mainly do this for myself as a means of motivation and tracking, I dont actually mean it...
October was a bit shit really, weather wise, everything i wanted to do got rained on severely but that didnt mean i didnt get out on the bike!
I have no idea what my mileage for the month is as my blackburn bike computer decided to play silly buggers; im hoping a new battery will sort it out, if not, the temptation to get a gps is quite high!
There were a couple of highlights for october though, the halloween weekend saw my traditional night ride take place, very grotty weather knobbled the intended route severly but the sipirts ( pun intended ) of the riders that came made the ride hugely enjoyable.
The weekend saw the sussex muddyarse 4th birthday ride on the northdowns and again, it rained rather alot...but i love riding the northdowns and had a great ride, even if the sandy nature of the mud has eaten my gears somewhat!
The big highlight was me passing my driving test, which will hopefully see me getting out and about and riding some new trails abit more! this will be a huge motivation for me as it means I wont get bored with the same old trails as quickly! It also means I can miss out the lengthy pre-ride to different locations so i can do some exploring; a few trails around the dyke are begging for this!
For November Im hoping to get in roughly 100m miles offroad, but will have to see how the weather and time plays its hand!
Halloween weekend pics.
I'll try to update mid month with some approximate mileage!
till then.
Jim.
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
Monday, 11 October 2010
A week off, back out into the glorious sunshine.
Right then, after a much needed week off and Tracie has now finished her course for the year I was able to get out in the amazing mid October sunshine. The trails where pretty dry despite the odd gloopy bit and it was good to warm the bones after the drowning I got in thetford.
I decided to recce the route I have in mind for the sussex muddy@rse halloween ride and it turned out to be a very nice ride indeed, just over 9 miles done in about an hour and half. including my ride to and from the start i clocked up just over 17 miles offroad today. Well happy.
I've led a halloween ride for 3 years now, this one being the fourth and its something I always enjoy and this one is going to a toughy if the weather is a bit damp. Im hoping we get a nice clear sky too!
A few pics from the ride:
Next planned ride is thursday, but we'll see how the weather and family throw spanners in the works!
till then!
I decided to recce the route I have in mind for the sussex muddy@rse halloween ride and it turned out to be a very nice ride indeed, just over 9 miles done in about an hour and half. including my ride to and from the start i clocked up just over 17 miles offroad today. Well happy.
I've led a halloween ride for 3 years now, this one being the fourth and its something I always enjoy and this one is going to a toughy if the weather is a bit damp. Im hoping we get a nice clear sky too!
A few pics from the ride:
Next planned ride is thursday, but we'll see how the weather and family throw spanners in the works!
till then!
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
Season roundup, thoughts and amibtions for the new year...
Right, time to take stock a little of the past season, what i'd like to achieve over the winter and goals for the next season...
Okay, not as much racing as I'd have liked, but my youngest son was still fresh out of the wrapper so little time to train or to actually get out and compete. I'll list the races I did and then I'll summerise my performance/winter goals.
April: MucOff8
Over priced and the course was bollocks due to the weather ( a recurring theme for the season ). In the dry it would have been ace but lack of fitness and preparation meant I didnt do that well. Raced as a pair with common tag team partner Guy, didnt do too badly ( relative to our own goals ) but better prep would have been an idea.
July: Bontrager24/12
My first attempt at a 24hr race, and i did it in a team of four. I've been racing around newnham park for over a decade now and even in the grotty weather the course was a lot of fun. I did pretty well but succombed to my old nemesis; my dodgy back which threw a wobbly around midnight. The team where ace and cracked on and we all put in a decent showing - 4 laps each and 5 for Sally. Definatley the high point of the year.
October: Dusk till Dawn
Later time i came to thetfors for the D2D race its rained, this time it poured! by the second lap it was like riding through porridge and not fun at all. Fitness wise I was feeling pretty good, a last minute massage and acupuncture helping my back too. The real issue was bastid chainsuck that dogged my entire second lap, this beat my physcologically as much as the rain. I probably couldve bodged a fix but the lure of a warm sleeping was too great. I was really dissapointed that for the third time this year, a great course was buggered by the rain.
Over all, my performance and fitness came in leaps and bounds at each race and i'm hoping to maintain a decent level of fitness over the winter months. In a few weeks i'll be taking my driving test and fingers crossed i'll pass as it'll give me the means to travel a bit and not have to ride the same trails time in and out - huge motivation points. I'll try and complete my camping kit too as i've found having that sorted takes alot of stress out - i wish i'd taken my bigger tent to D2D as i would have had room to change and been able to keep my bed area seperate. A few more little bits like a decent lamp and a chair are also on the list.
I'm hopefully moving onwards to a full suspension bike for the new year too, this will give my back some much needed protection, not sure if i'll replace the stiffee or supplement it, we'll have to see.
The important thing is my fitness, and touch wood i'll be able to get into a routine and make some decent ground on that front, a plan to by a turbo trainer for the grotty months is on the cards too.
Finishing my day job at 1300hrs also means i've got some day light to play around with too, something to capitalise on! A return to regular wednesday/thursday night riding too is a plan, what day depends on the weather!
First of all though, a week off as the wife is revising for her end of year law degree exam so no bikes till the 12th atleast! gives me a chance to replace some cables and tweak the bike a bit!
Goals for next year? a few, I'd like to do the goodwood spring challenge, a traditional xc race held in May, another crack at 24/12 and D2D again ( im determined to get another dry race out of that place! ) If it doesnt clash with Dylans second birthday, the Brighton BigDog is on the cards too. Guy and I have also targeted the exposure southdowns way race - from eastbourne to queeen elizabeth country park ( about 80 miles ) in the dark. We'll see about that one!
Ok, I'll update in a week or two as I have 100 miles to hit in 3 weeks this month! till then, tara!
Jim.
Okay, not as much racing as I'd have liked, but my youngest son was still fresh out of the wrapper so little time to train or to actually get out and compete. I'll list the races I did and then I'll summerise my performance/winter goals.
April: MucOff8
Over priced and the course was bollocks due to the weather ( a recurring theme for the season ). In the dry it would have been ace but lack of fitness and preparation meant I didnt do that well. Raced as a pair with common tag team partner Guy, didnt do too badly ( relative to our own goals ) but better prep would have been an idea.
July: Bontrager24/12
My first attempt at a 24hr race, and i did it in a team of four. I've been racing around newnham park for over a decade now and even in the grotty weather the course was a lot of fun. I did pretty well but succombed to my old nemesis; my dodgy back which threw a wobbly around midnight. The team where ace and cracked on and we all put in a decent showing - 4 laps each and 5 for Sally. Definatley the high point of the year.
October: Dusk till Dawn
Later time i came to thetfors for the D2D race its rained, this time it poured! by the second lap it was like riding through porridge and not fun at all. Fitness wise I was feeling pretty good, a last minute massage and acupuncture helping my back too. The real issue was bastid chainsuck that dogged my entire second lap, this beat my physcologically as much as the rain. I probably couldve bodged a fix but the lure of a warm sleeping was too great. I was really dissapointed that for the third time this year, a great course was buggered by the rain.
Over all, my performance and fitness came in leaps and bounds at each race and i'm hoping to maintain a decent level of fitness over the winter months. In a few weeks i'll be taking my driving test and fingers crossed i'll pass as it'll give me the means to travel a bit and not have to ride the same trails time in and out - huge motivation points. I'll try and complete my camping kit too as i've found having that sorted takes alot of stress out - i wish i'd taken my bigger tent to D2D as i would have had room to change and been able to keep my bed area seperate. A few more little bits like a decent lamp and a chair are also on the list.
I'm hopefully moving onwards to a full suspension bike for the new year too, this will give my back some much needed protection, not sure if i'll replace the stiffee or supplement it, we'll have to see.
The important thing is my fitness, and touch wood i'll be able to get into a routine and make some decent ground on that front, a plan to by a turbo trainer for the grotty months is on the cards too.
Finishing my day job at 1300hrs also means i've got some day light to play around with too, something to capitalise on! A return to regular wednesday/thursday night riding too is a plan, what day depends on the weather!
First of all though, a week off as the wife is revising for her end of year law degree exam so no bikes till the 12th atleast! gives me a chance to replace some cables and tweak the bike a bit!
Goals for next year? a few, I'd like to do the goodwood spring challenge, a traditional xc race held in May, another crack at 24/12 and D2D again ( im determined to get another dry race out of that place! ) If it doesnt clash with Dylans second birthday, the Brighton BigDog is on the cards too. Guy and I have also targeted the exposure southdowns way race - from eastbourne to queeen elizabeth country park ( about 80 miles ) in the dark. We'll see about that one!
Ok, I'll update in a week or two as I have 100 miles to hit in 3 weeks this month! till then, tara!
Jim.
Sunday, 3 October 2010
Race report, Dusk till Dawn 2010
Right, thats me clean and dry and the bike cleaned...
well, it rained. alot. those of you at the 2008 race will remember what its like in the wet, this year the rain was alot harder.
I had the honour of the first lap, and aside from the first lap heroics of a few this was a good lap, the course was still pretty dry at this point and I was riding very much in mind of not buggering my back out on the first lap ( a massage friday night with acupuncture solved alot of the sciatic pain that has dogged me since 24/12 ). The rain started getting heavier towards the end of the lap, I had some minor drama on a paricularly badly placed root but that was it...not bad I thought, lets hope it stays tht way...
It didnt.
Including the pre-lap we all did following the quad, the first lap took me 1hr7mins ( iirc )
Thge course unfortunatley rapidly detereorated after that and come my second lap, the singletrack was like riding through porridge and the fire roads like slightly runnier porridge. Luckily I had my contacts in so I could still where I was riding but the going was awfull; I could only listen as the gritty paste destroyed ( luckily brand new ) brake pads and ate my transmission which was a major issue as chronic chainsuck doged me around the 2nd lap. Everytime I slowed for a technical section or just slowed my spin a little the chain played silly biggers and did its best to grind my chainstay a little thinner - after 11 miles of this I decided :o to it, I wasnt having any fun so decided to call it an evening. Second lap took around 2 hours I think.
On the bright side, my back held up well and my tire choice ( 2.1 trailraker rear and 2.1 nobby nic front ) performed really well.
Anyway, thats that over with. I'm going to try and have a good winter and try and get some kind of fitness back for next year, perhaps with some yoga/pilates to sort my back out.
Going to try and keep up my 100 training miles a month till Christmas, then try and ramp it up for the start of the new season...I'll keep updating here!
Jim, over and out.
well, it rained. alot. those of you at the 2008 race will remember what its like in the wet, this year the rain was alot harder.
I had the honour of the first lap, and aside from the first lap heroics of a few this was a good lap, the course was still pretty dry at this point and I was riding very much in mind of not buggering my back out on the first lap ( a massage friday night with acupuncture solved alot of the sciatic pain that has dogged me since 24/12 ). The rain started getting heavier towards the end of the lap, I had some minor drama on a paricularly badly placed root but that was it...not bad I thought, lets hope it stays tht way...
It didnt.
Including the pre-lap we all did following the quad, the first lap took me 1hr7mins ( iirc )
Thge course unfortunatley rapidly detereorated after that and come my second lap, the singletrack was like riding through porridge and the fire roads like slightly runnier porridge. Luckily I had my contacts in so I could still where I was riding but the going was awfull; I could only listen as the gritty paste destroyed ( luckily brand new ) brake pads and ate my transmission which was a major issue as chronic chainsuck doged me around the 2nd lap. Everytime I slowed for a technical section or just slowed my spin a little the chain played silly biggers and did its best to grind my chainstay a little thinner - after 11 miles of this I decided :o to it, I wasnt having any fun so decided to call it an evening. Second lap took around 2 hours I think.
On the bright side, my back held up well and my tire choice ( 2.1 trailraker rear and 2.1 nobby nic front ) performed really well.
Anyway, thats that over with. I'm going to try and have a good winter and try and get some kind of fitness back for next year, perhaps with some yoga/pilates to sort my back out.
Going to try and keep up my 100 training miles a month till Christmas, then try and ramp it up for the start of the new season...I'll keep updating here!
Jim, over and out.
Saturday, 2 October 2010
Race day!
Wow, October is here and in half an hour or so I'll be leaving for thetford for the dusk till dawn mtb enduro; 12 hours, 8pm till 8am.
I didnt quite make my 100 miles, just over 90 in the end, but Tracie is revising for her year 2 final exam in her law degree so time was as abundant as possible.
I'd been very worried about my back in the build up to the race so last night I went and got a sports massage with a side of acupucnture thrown in. It seems to have done the trick - walking to a local shopfor a few last minute bits wasnt painfull at all, aside from the soreness from the needles and massage itself!
Never having had acupuncture, I was very suprised to learn just how big the needles are and how deep they penetrate - the ones in my back and buttock where in around 8cm! I have to say there was no pain at all when they where in and only a little tingle as they went in too.
Conditions for the race shopuld be interesting, theres been a fair bit of rain and light rain/showers are forecast for the race but we'll have to see, after racing the bontrager 24/12 in the rain im alot less bothered by it now. Im aiming to do atleast four laps. ( around 45 miles )
Right, Im gonna get my stuff together - i'll post a report when I get home sunday!
wish me luck!
I didnt quite make my 100 miles, just over 90 in the end, but Tracie is revising for her year 2 final exam in her law degree so time was as abundant as possible.
I'd been very worried about my back in the build up to the race so last night I went and got a sports massage with a side of acupucnture thrown in. It seems to have done the trick - walking to a local shopfor a few last minute bits wasnt painfull at all, aside from the soreness from the needles and massage itself!
Never having had acupuncture, I was very suprised to learn just how big the needles are and how deep they penetrate - the ones in my back and buttock where in around 8cm! I have to say there was no pain at all when they where in and only a little tingle as they went in too.
Conditions for the race shopuld be interesting, theres been a fair bit of rain and light rain/showers are forecast for the race but we'll have to see, after racing the bontrager 24/12 in the rain im alot less bothered by it now. Im aiming to do atleast four laps. ( around 45 miles )
Right, Im gonna get my stuff together - i'll post a report when I get home sunday!
wish me luck!
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Busy week but got some ground work in!
Short update today, Got out for a short 11 miles on sunday morning and managed 9 singletrack miles tonight n the dark so happy about that. Spinning back and forth to work notched up 15 miles but they're hardly intensive training miles so dont count towards the total!
Pretty busy over the weekend so not much hope of a ride there but there is a possibility of another ride tomorow, have to see how i feel and what the weather does; the forecast doesnt look great :o( No pictures, too busy riding!
Pretty busy over the weekend so not much hope of a ride there but there is a possibility of another ride tomorow, have to see how i feel and what the weather does; the forecast doesnt look great :o( No pictures, too busy riding!
Friday, 17 September 2010
A good week off!
Right, a good week off has been had!
Its started off a little hap hazardly when I took a tumble and heavily bruised my side:
Silly mistake on some slippy planking...Oh well.
As the wife was finishing off her last last essay of the year for her degree I had a chance to rest up and did some DIY and garden tidying up; setting fire to anything in the garden that looked like rubbish! Happy days but my hair still smells of smoke :o(
Thursday and Friday I got some riding in, a nice couple of loops, notching up 29 miles in total and hopefully I'll get a spin out on sunday morning; the plan is to leave early and do a long ride, but the forecast isnt too promising...
Im trying to do a photo a ride to go with the blog, so here are the ones taken on the last two rides:
So, an extra 29 miles to add to the tally bringing it up to 58 miles so just over 40 to get in by the end of September....
Okay, going to settle down and watch the practice for the Aragon motoGP, over and out!
Its started off a little hap hazardly when I took a tumble and heavily bruised my side:
Silly mistake on some slippy planking...Oh well.
As the wife was finishing off her last last essay of the year for her degree I had a chance to rest up and did some DIY and garden tidying up; setting fire to anything in the garden that looked like rubbish! Happy days but my hair still smells of smoke :o(
Thursday and Friday I got some riding in, a nice couple of loops, notching up 29 miles in total and hopefully I'll get a spin out on sunday morning; the plan is to leave early and do a long ride, but the forecast isnt too promising...
Im trying to do a photo a ride to go with the blog, so here are the ones taken on the last two rides:
Okay, going to settle down and watch the practice for the Aragon motoGP, over and out!
Sunday, 12 September 2010
Jim down!
hah, only a little bit. Riding into work along the sea front this morning, I twice managed to fall off on some slippery woodwork, nothing major but some nasty bruising on my left side. A lovely morning, shame I have to be in work really but no big deal; I have the following 5 days off so hope to get close to my 100 mile target by the end of it.
Ordered a cycle computer on friday, so i dont have to find pockets for my iphone all the time or murder the battery running the gps tracker. This'll mean i can track my mileage back and forth from work too.
got a few pics from this morning, cant add them at work so i'll do that when i get home.
hopefully a big update when this week is over, with some big miles done!
*update with pics*
over and out!
Ordered a cycle computer on friday, so i dont have to find pockets for my iphone all the time or murder the battery running the gps tracker. This'll mean i can track my mileage back and forth from work too.
got a few pics from this morning, cant add them at work so i'll do that when i get home.
hopefully a big update when this week is over, with some big miles done!
*update with pics*
over and out!
Thursday, 9 September 2010
Morning with a blast!
Got up for a spot of interval training around Hove park, just under 5 miles in 25 minutes = 4 laps. I had hoped to do 5 but it was beginning to fill with dog walkers so warmed down on lap four and came home.
29.6 miles/100 so plenty of work to do if I want to hit the 100 mile mark by D2D.
Hove Park intervals.
hopefully that works!
Right, cup of tea, stretch and a banana then get cleaned up.
29.6 miles/100 so plenty of work to do if I want to hit the 100 mile mark by D2D.
Hove Park intervals.
hopefully that works!
Right, cup of tea, stretch and a banana then get cleaned up.
The 1st Post!
Right then! I've done a blog! Inspired by my brothers efforts and as a way to motivate me through winter as a record of my highs and lows as I try to get fit and thin again!
I'm going to post a mileage target at the start of each month and regularly update with my progess, plus anything else that happens to me along the way!
My first goal is 100 miles during September and having a good race at the Dusk till dawn 12 hour MTB race.
Im riding this after a years break as a pair and hope to put in a good show as its a good spring board for winter!
Ho-kay, just to see how this works, I'm going to try post a picture of my bike!
Thats the riding iron, soon ( hopefully ) to be suplemented by a full suspension bike to ease a old back injury that isnt easing as well as it used to when riding the hardtail.
Mileage so far this month: 27.47/100
So, a third of the way so far!
Links to Motion-X gps records of rides this month:
Evening singletrack fest
Guy's Holiday ride
yet more singletrack!
I'm going to post a mileage target at the start of each month and regularly update with my progess, plus anything else that happens to me along the way!
My first goal is 100 miles during September and having a good race at the Dusk till dawn 12 hour MTB race.
Im riding this after a years break as a pair and hope to put in a good show as its a good spring board for winter!
Ho-kay, just to see how this works, I'm going to try post a picture of my bike!
Thats the riding iron, soon ( hopefully ) to be suplemented by a full suspension bike to ease a old back injury that isnt easing as well as it used to when riding the hardtail.
Mileage so far this month: 27.47/100
So, a third of the way so far!
Links to Motion-X gps records of rides this month:
Evening singletrack fest
Guy's Holiday ride
yet more singletrack!
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